music

On occasion, here at David Turner Music, we will be blogging about DJ-ing weddings and events (among many other topics), in an effort to provide clients with some insight on the approach we take at wedding receptions, private parties, corporate and themed events, etc. While the overall approach to DJ-ing is similar for all of these parties, we want to share some things that we feel make a successful event. In this installment of the blog, I want to talk about disc jockey music selection for the different types of events, starting with weddings.

Wedding receptions can typically be broken down into a few parts, as far as music is concerned: Special Music Segments(Wedding party intros, first and special dances, etc.), light dance sets, dance sets, and the dinner set. When choosing a great DJ in Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando, Naples or Fort Myers, Florida, you will clearly want him or her to have a variety of great music in their collection and, possibly more important, know the appropriate time to play that music. After all, you’ll see a lot of DJs brag about having tens of thousands of songs on tap. But, of course, that’s just part of the equation.

As an example, every bride and groom will have their favorite artists and songs on a playlist that they will supply to a DJ prior to the event, but it’s important to understand that their favorite music might not speak to all of the guests at the wedding. That said…make no mistake…YOU DEFINITELY PLAY THE SONGS THAT THEY REQUEST FOR THEIR WEDDING! However, maybe you can fit the slightly less popular or more obscure stuff in during dinner, for example. When you want a packed dance floor at a wedding, you really have to be playing the biggest hits…hits that everybody knows…not just the bride and groom.

As far as wedding party intros and special dances, they will, of course, involve playing exact requests. So, nothing to worry about there.

Dinner is the perfect time to focus on the bride’s and groom’s music requests…especially lesser known stuff and slower songs. Most wedding guests are engaged in conversation at this point, and also more receptive to music that they may not be as familiar with, anyway. So, go ahead and get those more obscure/mellow/chill requests in before the party kicks into gear!

Light dance sets at weddings might consist of a pre-dinner dance set, or an instance where some guests are finished eating, while others are not quite done. You’re not ready to blow the place up with the latest Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran or Coldplay song, but you want to “fill the void” so to speak, with some decent and danceable stuff. Go ahead and DJ some second tier hits while you’re prepping for the big set that will follow.

The big dance sets at a wedding reception in Sarasota, or any other place for that matter, will be huge hits from different decades and styles, and maybe a few regional-type favorites…just do a great job mixing and transitioning and all will be well.

So, that’s about it for the first rendition of the “Sarasota Best DJ Tips” blog. Stay tuned for additional posts in the near future, and thanks again for considering David Turner Music of Sarasota, FL for your disc jockey and live music needs on the west coast of Florida! – DT

Now that we’ve added a DJ option for weddings and events in the Sarasota, FL area, I wanted to take a few minutes and hit on some key points to consider when looking for wedding entertainment. Specifically, I want to get into the wedding disc jockey versus wedding band argument. Of course, for many, it’s not really an argument at all…it’s simply a matter of the entertainment budget. We know that weddings aren’t cheap…with the average cost typically coming in at over $30,000 in the year 2014, according to a survey by The Knot, and touched upon by this article in the Huffington Post:

As a musician, I hesitate to push people toward a DJ option without first considering a live band for the reception. But, if you’re spending a reasonable amount on the wedding venue, food, flowers and other stuff, and still coming up short on funds, a DJ might end up being your best, and only, realistic entertainment option for the reception. That said, there’s no reason to be disappointed by this choice…just read on to find out why!

While there are great wedding bands in Sarasota, Tampa, Naples, Orlando and Ft. Myers, FL, a lot of the newer pop music that is preferred for wedding receptions can be difficult to replicate live. Even some of the best local wedding and event bands will, unfortunately, be using tracks to produce this music, which is somewhat disappointing. In a sense, this new generation of popular music is like processed food. It sounds great, but requires an extensive ingredient list concocted in a studio…and may be bad for your health as well…LOL. Seriously, though….if you’re paying thousands of dollars for one of the best wedding bands in central Florida, you don’t really want mediocre tracks running behind them…it’s kinda like really expensive karaoke with a few good wedding singers (if you’re lucky). And if the band doesn’t play with tracks, it better be at least 10 musicians strong, with multiple synthesizers and racks of effects, or it won’t sound anything like that new Calvin Harris, Chainsmokers, Jason Derulo, or Bruno Mars track you’ve been listening to non-stop! Having a (good) DJ at your wedding means that you will have the original songs playing…songs that cost tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars or more to produce, in the best studios in the world, playing for your listening pleasure.

Another consideration is the fact that disc jockeys can play many, many more songs for your wedding reception. It’s not uncommon for the typical DJ to have thousands of the best wedding reception and party songs in their collection, with thousands more available via streaming if they have Wi-Fi at the wedding venue. No local band can compete with that. In fact, you probably won’t find a wedding band anywhere in Florida or beyond able to offer this type of capability for fulfilling special music requests.

Now, before I go too much further, and get my fellow musicians mad at me (especially those that play wedding ceremonies, cocktails and receptions), it’s important to state that there’s something special about having a live band play for your wedding, too. This is especially true if you’ve hired great and talented musicians here in Florida. It’s visually dramatic, interactive, and adds a special touch to the reception. This is part of the reason we offer a “live music” DJ option here at David Turner Music. Booking this package for your wedding event ensures that your guests will still get a unique Florida wedding experience, at a fraction of the cost of completely live entertainment. Click here for more info on David Turner Music’s “live music” DJ option.

With overall wedding budget being a huge factor in the band versus DJ argument, it’s important that we briefly touch upon this more obvious consideration. While a DJ will certainly reduce your wedding entertainment costs, I definitely don’t recommend you look for the cheapest disc jockey you can find. Believe it or not, a good DJ is a very talented guy or gal. At minimum, if they aren’t formally trained in music, they will have spent a lot of time learning to mix songs in a manner that will sound smooth and appropriate. They’re tech-savvy, using expensive equipment, and tend to have good rhythm, and know a lot of songs that will keep people dancing. Expect to pay as much as you would for a one or two piece wedding band, at least in the central Florida area. And, don’t forget, disc jockeys have a lot of money wrapped up in the PA system. So no…your iPod running Pandora through cousin Mike’s Bluetooth beach speaker will not sounds the same…at all! Spend a few extra bucks and enjoy your wedding reception!!

Well, that’s about it for now. Please stay tuned for more upcoming blog posts from David Turner Music that will give you great wedding planning ideas and advice! We want your Sarasota, FL area wedding to be the best it can be, with the best wedding entertainment available at your budget level! If you’re interested in our services, please head to our Wedding Musicians and DJs page today for more info! Or, take a moment and contact us for pricing information.